Did Fadnavis-shinde meet Shah in Guj?
MUMBAI: Though BJP state president Chandrakant Patil has categorically denied the involvement of the BJP in the current political crisis engulfing Maharashtra, few believe him. On Saturday the speculation about the role of BJP gained currency when it emerged that both Devendra Fadnavis from Mumbai and Eknath Shinde from Guwahati had converged in Vadodara where Amit Shah too was present. Sources in both, Mumbai BJP and in the rebel camp in Guwahati confirmed the meeting at Vadodara but no one willing to go on record.
The meeting, details of which are not available, assumes significance in the wake of Maharashtra deputy speaker’s decision to disqualify 16 rebel MLAS including Eknath Shinde. It also led to speculation whether the duo discussed issues related to formation of a future government in Maharashtra in case the MVA government collapses. Both Shinde and Fadnavis allegedly reached Vadodara through separate chartered flights and returned to their respective base within a few hours. Significantly, union home minister Amit Shah too landed in Vadodara on Friday evening as part of his two-day visit to Gujarat. Contrary to unofficial buzz, BJP leader and former finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar strongly refuted the reports of Vadodara meeting. “These are baseless stories. A few people in Shiv Sena are trying to prove they are at no fault and their 40 MLAS revolted against the party because BJP is instigating them. It is because of your (Thackeray’s) ego and attitude that Sena MLAS moved away from you and you’re (Shiv Sena) holding BJP responsible for your failure,”said Mungantiwar.
Sonia calls Uddhav, assures support MUMBAI: Interim Congress president Sonia Gandhi called chief minister Uddhav Thackeray and expressed support to the Shiv Sena amid the crisis. Sena leader and minister Aaditya Thackeray confirmed that the two leaders spoke on the phone. The Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi allies are firmly behind the Sena, added Thackeray. Nationalist Congress Party supremo Sharad Pawar had earlier supported the Sena chief amid rebellion by Eknath Shinde.
Sena dist cheif quits in Shinde’s support MUMBAI: Naresh Mhaske, outgoing mayor of Thane and Shiv Sena district chief, resigned from his post in support of rebel Sena leader Eknath Shinde, Mhaske is the first senior officebearer of the party to quit. “I am resigning from the post of district unit chief in protest of suffocation of our organisation (in the ruling MVA coalition),” Mhaske tweeted on Saturday.
Cong asks mins to focus on work, says legal team ready MUMBAI: Maharashtra Congress unit held a meeting of its ministers to discuss the current political situation on Saturday. They were informed about the issues the MVA government is facing and also that they will have to focus on their work irrespective of the ongoing political crisis. The ministers were told that the legal team of the party is ready to deal with any legal cases the MVA coalition is likely to face in the coming weeks. It is the same legal team that has approached the Supreme Court seeking an order to the Devendra Fadnavis-led Maharashtra government to quickly face the floor test. On November 26, 2019, the apex court directed the floor test for the then chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to prove his majority in the Maharashtra Assembly be conducted the next day. The meeting was held at Royalstone, official residence of revenue minister and senior leader Balasaheb Thorat.